War with Russia

[briantrumpet]

Not good. I suspect a statement of intent from Putin.

 

[briantrumpet]

An interesting riposte to Owen Jones' claim that the West 'created' Vladimir Putin:

https://skywriter.blue/@ruthdeyermond.bsky.social/3mwdujgs34s2r

"By blaming the West for Russia's inability to emerge as the great power it is destined to be, the Kremlin shifts the blame for the Russian government's own failures while also creating an enemy that legitimates it and rationalises ever more control over Russian society. "It's all the West's fault" has been the Russian political elite's indispensable get out of jail free card for 30 years. It allows them to acknowledge that things have gone wrong while taking zero responsibility. If you tell only part of the story of what happened to the Russian economy in the 1990s, you are helping Putin continue to justify what he does to Russians, to Ukrainians, and to the rest of Europe."

 

[Ian H]

There is a valid argument that the expansion eastwards of NATO, contrary to assurances given to Russia, antagonized the Russians to the extent that some kind of hostile reaction was likely.

 

[Psamathe]

There is a valid argument that the expansion eastwards of NATO, contrary to assurances given to Russia, antagonized the Russians to the extent that some kind of hostile reaction was likely.

NATO is a defensive organisation, its treaties only work in a defensive situation.

I don't see it as NATO expanding. More that independent democratic countries chose to join.

 

[Ian H]

NATO is a defensive organisation, its treaties only work in a defensive situation.

I don't see it as NATO expanding. More that independent democratic countries chose to join.

Were allowed to, even encouraged to join. Which reduced Russia's potential sphere of influence.

 

[Psamathe]

Were allowed to, even encouraged to join. Which reduced Russia's potential sphere of influence.

Maybe better than Putin's method trying to get independent democratic countries to join Russia.

 

[Rusty Nails]

Were allowed to, even encouraged to join. Which reduced Russia's potential sphere of influence.

An interesting phrase.

 

[Ian H]

An interesting phrase.

Covers a multitude of sins. But I'm not making value judgements. Russia is skilled at covert influence.

 

[Rusty Nails]

Covers a multitude of sins. But I'm not making value judgements. Russia is skilled at covert influence.

And sometimes forcefully overt. I believe Sweden, Finland, Latvia and Estonia are more concerned about this aspect.